In the dark...
 

How do you find your stands and/or your way outin the dark?

Check all that apply.

EDIT: Rybo brought up a good point about how hunting the same land for extended periods of time can give you a lot of familiarity - vitiating the "need" for a crutch to help find your way. So, in light of that, I guess this discussion applies moreso to hunting "new" properties every year or accessinga wide variety of different and/or revolving stand sites.




If I get into an area where I might miss my tree - I break out theglowtacks. But, I'm actually so cheap and shady that I refuse to tack the whole way from the car to the stand. So, I follow the natural boundaries in as far as possible, then tack my way through the best point of ingress/egress.

Maybe I'm ultra noided out by such things, but I tend to think that if you tack all the way back to the parking area, you're just inviting other people to follow the tacks all the way in to your stand sites. So, for my more convoluted hikes, I might have a 1/2 mile walk, but only 50-100 yards of tack lines.

Also, for the early season hunts, I stack the tacks closer together to make them easier to follow through the dense foliage.

RE: In the dark...
 

All from memory

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The natural boundaries help my memory.

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I use a red lens flashlight but only if absolutely needed.

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I'm a tacker, too....to an extent (same fears you have).

But this was PRICELESS!:D:D:D

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Here's the scenario, shooting light is gone and the wolves have been howling for an 1/2 hour. I start heading back to camp at dark, forget about the glow tacks and turn on the flashlight. It looks like eyeballs all around you until you remember your emmer effer hunting buddyput glow tacks up and down the trails. Return to camp, curse hunting buddy and change pants.

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No flashlight option?

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I use natural boundries and memory. Although there was one time that I just could not find my stand in the morning so I just sat down on the ground. When the sun came up, the tree was less than 15 feet away[&:]

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I just wait until it's light enough to see and go in. I'm such apansy.

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I am very much like you, I use memory and natural boundaries and then normally tack from there. I did purchase a very cool GPS this year and have all my stand locations in there. I have been playing around with the GPS to find my way to/from camera locations (not that I don't remember, but I need the practice with the GPS) and it seems that this approach will work really well. I love the glow tacks, but like you, I have always been afraid that they are nothing more than a billboard advertising a free stand or camera.

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Natural boundaries and memory. I have "drug" my feet in the leaves every so often to make a "makeshift" trail to my stand. Anything that helps you get there. :D

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Honest to god, dude - I've had a grown man look me in the face and say "Will you walk me out to my stand - there are BEARS around here."

Seriously.

Been there bro. That totally sucks.

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NATURAL BOUNDARIES AND MEMORY SHOULD BE ALL THAT YOU NEED. should you be in real unfamiliar territory, then maybe a guid could be used of som sort, but you should always try to know the lay of the land

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There are advantages to packing a climber in each time.;)

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Memory and natural boundaries....I don't use reflective tacks or tape because I hunt public land, and don't want anyone seeing my spots.

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I've got some tack lines at my place, but I'd like to get rid of those. I also think it's too tempting for the trespassers. I've got a LED flashlight that has both green and red LED bulbs in it too so I use this quite a bit to help find my tree.

This year, for the longer hikesI'll be using the GPS on my iPhone. [8D];) Already have a few stand sites saved in it.

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I go by memory (using natural landmarks when needed). Of course most of my hunting is done on land I’ve been hunting for 20 years and could probably find a couple of my trees literally with my eyes closed. Hunting a lot of new spots out of state this year, I likely will not tack, probably back up my memory with GPS, but only use it if I have to. I also carry a red lens light.

Good story here, I’ll try to keep it short. Back when I was probably 14 yrs old, opening morning my Dad walks me in to my stand, then proceeds to his tree. It was about 120 yds thru thick woods, with a meandering route. We used no lights. The next Saturday morning, we get to the trail to cut in, and he just keeps on walking?! “Dad, how am I supposed to find my tree?” –‘I showed you how to get there last week. You can walk in to it now, or wait here till it gets light.’
Ok, so I head in, trying to maintain the right heading. I got to where I thought I was close but just could not find my stand(climber left around the tree as high up as I could reach) So I figured I’d sit down & wait for daylight. I hadn’t been seated for 2 minutes when I made out the silhouette of my stand against the sky not 10 yds away.

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I use my non spooking game light. I have a cableas headlamp that switches between a regular flashlight and the non spooking light.

If I can't find it I will just sit still until light.

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I've looked at a map of my land and walked it so many times I usually don't need anything. I still have a headlamp just for some reason I'd doubt myself. Or if I hear coyotes coming closer then I can take off running:D

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Mainly memory, new stands I'm not accustom to yet....tacks and natural boundaries

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interesting ... I just finished up an antelope hunt where my wifeand I had to walk in each morning a good hour in the darkto get to our spot before daylight so the antelope herd wouldnt see us from their mountain side bedding areas. We used the light of the moon, natural landmarks, ie creeks, willow thickets andmarshesto sneak across and into ournatural blinds that we had built. Pretty easy actually longas you dont mind2bears and3 moose we bumped on seperate mornings. :D

as far as my whitetail stands, I see pretty good in the dark and have spent a lot of time walking out in the dark, Iget inby memory of trails, landmarks etc, pretty much like eveyone else stated. I have never needed touse flash lights or tacs or anything.

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Rarely will I use any thing reflective.Memory with terrain and Gps as a last resort are my methods.The experience does heighten when you are in predator country.Mountain lions and wolves.Field dressing and dragging deer out while it is dark in such country always has the alertness and adrenaline level kicked up a couple of notches.

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Memory only for me (GPS if super foggy or something)... Don't want to put out anything that could lead other hunters to my stand or favorite hunting spots....

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For those guys that do use reflective tape/markers don't you worry someone will find your spot?
Also, I wouldn't rely on GPS, because the batteries might fail. IMHO, memory and a good light will get you there.

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memory and a flashlight when needed

rick

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I head up river;)

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I dunno.

For those of you who leave your stands in the woods....don't you think they can see them on their way OUT? :D

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I normally just go by memory and using the natural land features such as points, creeks and the like. I have used reflective bright eyes in the past and would use them again if i was hunting land im not familiar with, but the land im hunting i dont need it on.

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I use natural features of the land...

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I use bright eyes, on the places I've hunted the past few years, haven't had to worry about other people taking my spots.

Not to jack Fran's thread, but do you guys get a sudden feeling of relaxation andpersonal self achievementonce you get up in your tree?? [8D]Its almost like I feel that is a huge obstacle in the dark morning, and when I finally settle in that tree I think to myself "finally......I made it!" And all is well afterwards? I ain't afraid of the dark, I love dark woods, but that's just a weird feeling I get in myself when I set out from the truck. Like I'm on a misson of something.....

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100% agree with you mikey

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On places I've hunted for awhile, natural boundaries and memory. For new areas I use natural boundaries as much as possible and mark trails with natural objects placed so I'll notice them, but someone else won't. Last resort - red light.

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You have some great replys there...

Sometimes i use bright eyes. Some spots natural entrys... sometime memory... all depends on the spot.

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Grew up on the land I hunt.... all memory

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I might be if I left a spotlight showing right where it was. ;)

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Tacks...This applies to some of my stands more than others. Some are just a few steps in a funnel, others are on field edges, and only two of mine are .5 or more in. The tacks work great for me. Im on my own lease so if anyone follows mine in they will be caught in any one of my chinese booby traps, picture will be taken. I may display pictures of trspassers caught on my main gate going in to assure we are watching for them.

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Natural boundaries, memory, I know my woods. When I'm up north bear hunting I mark my trails with a knife by slicing the bark on a tree and I also break branches on the trail and let them over hang. A compass is also with me when I'm in an unfamiliar area.

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I hunt 100% private land....and while I DO use bright eyes on a couple trails to stand....they're MORE for allowing me to get in quietly. I know where my trees are......but getting there on a trail that will let me sneak in quietly is another thing, altogether.

I used about 7-8 on a 1/2 mi. walk, Sunday. I hope that's enough.:D

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boundries, memory and a red headlamp

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i have memorized the lay of the land where i hunt, and use no type of aids. i have a mini mag lite in case i have to trail a deer after dark, but other than that i never use it. i use a trick my dad taught me years ago. as i'm sure you all know, the darker it gets, the more your eye pupils expand to soak up more light, to allow you to see better. so before i start walking in the morning, i close my eyes for almost a full minute. this makes my pupils expand to their limit, and the difference in your night vision when you open your eyes will surprise you. you guys should try it, it helps.